RNC Chairman Reince Priebus: After Cleveland visit, other convention hopefuls 'have a lot of work to do'

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CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland, by demonstrating its ability to raise money and by adding hotel rooms, has made a strong impression on Republican National Committee convention planners, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus said Tuesday.

"Obviously we've got a lot of work to do," Priebus said during a morning news conference at Quicken Loans Arena. "The way that this has started in Cleveland, I think the rest of the cities are going to have a lot of work to do."

Cleveland is among four finalists to host the GOP's presidential nominating convention in 2016, and the first to present its case to a full site-selection team that arrived Monday afternoon and leaves Wednesday. The team then moves on to Kansas City, Mo., and will wrap up its visits next week in Denver and Dallas.

A decision is expected in late summer or early fall.

Cleveland's convention boosters, led by former Plain Dealer publisher Terry Egger, Mayor Frank Jackson and other civic leaders, say the city needs to come up with between $55 million and $60 million -- much of it through private donations -- to pay for the four-day event. Commitments already are trickling in; two weeks ago officials said Cleveland's bid had $25 million in commitments.

The city also boasts more hotel rooms than it had eight years ago, when Cleveland was among the contenders to host the Republicans' 2008 convention. And the county has produced a new convention center, which will be anchored by a new hotel.

Enid Mickelsen, a former congresswoman from Utah who chairs the RNC's site-selection committee, said Cleveland has another plus. She spoke of a stranger who stopped her on the street Tuesday day morning to welcome her to the city.

"I think your people are your greatest asset," Mickelsen said.

Cleveland is overwhelmingly Democratic, and battleground Ohio has gone twice for President Barack Obama. But Priebus and Mickelsen said the political dynamics are not a deterrent. Priebus, who's from Wisconsin, noted that the Milwaukee area, despite being Democratic, still produces a large share of Republican votes statewide.

Said Mickelsen: "We're always looking for new friends."

And in Cleveland they've found a few on the Democratic side. National and local leaders remarked repeatedly about the bipartisan nature of Cleveland's bid, which is being assisted by Jackson, a Democrat, and by Cuyahoga County Executive Ed FitzGerald, the Democratic nominee for governor. (Republican Gov. John Kasich is expected to attend a private RNC reception tonight in Cleveland.)

"I can't remember the last time I was so happy to see so many Republicans here," FitzGerald quipped when he took the microphone Tuesday.

But FitzGerald's remarks, delivered after Priebus left the basketball arena's stage, underscored the political sensitivities at play. The county executive stood off to the side while Priebus spoke and heaped praise on Kasich. The two exchanged a brief handshake as Priebus left and FitzGerald took his spot on the dais.

Leaders here downplayed the role politics played in the stage-managing. They noted a lack of chairs and the fact that Priebus had to continue on with his tour.